Cassette Awning with Concealed Fastenings

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a cassette awning having a cloth shaft ( 3 ) rotatably mounted in a housing ( 1 ), from which shaft there can be unwound a cloth ( 4 ) of which the front end is fastened to an extension profile ( 2 ), wherein the awning has fastening brackets ( 7 ) for fastening to a building, wherein the housing ( 1 ) is angled on both sides at the ends and the fastening brackets ( 7 ) are covered by the angled ends ( 5   a,    5   b ) of the housing.

The invention relates to a cassette awning with a fabric shaft which is pivotally mounted in a housing and from which a fabric can be unrolled, whose front end is attached to an extension profile, the awning having fastening brackets for fastening to a building.

These awnings are known. To attach these awnings to a building wall, brackets are fastened to the building wall, the awning being hung in these brackets by the housing of the awning having a corresponding contour which is suitable to be fixed in the bracket. In general the housing which has been hung in the bracket is then secured against turning-up in order to avoid slipping out of the bracket.

The disadvantage in these brackets is that the fastening of the awning housing by way of the brackets to the building wall offers a visually less pleasing overall impression since the bracket and the fastening screws are visible. Another disadvantage is that dirt can settle in the region of the fastenings such as screws, locking elements, clamping pieces and the like; over the long term this can lead not only to an adverse optical effect on the overall impression, but also to possible damage of the bracket and the fasteners. It is known that over a long time interval dirt can lead to screw connections no longer being easily disconnectable.

The object of the invention is to develop a cassette awning of the initially named type such that the indicated disadvantages are overcome, especially that it is possible to protect the fastening brackets against external effects such as fouling by rain water and the like and at the same time to ensure a visually pleasing overall impression.

This object is achieved by a cassette awning as claimed in claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are given in the dependent claims.

In a cassette awning with a fabric shaft which is pivotally mounted in a housing and from which a fabric can be unrolled, whose front end is attached to an extension profile, the awning having fastening brackets for fastening to a building, it is especially advantageous that the housing on both sides is angled on the ends and that fastening brackets are covered by the angled ends of the housing.

The term cassette awning means an awning in which there is a housing in which the fabric shaft is pivotally mounted, especially an awning in which with the awning retracted the housing is closed by an extension profile so that the fabric shaft protected from rain water and other environmental effects is located in the cassette and the housing.

The terms front end and sides relate to the extension direction of the awning, i.e. that the extension profile to which the front end of the fabric which can be unwound from the fabric shaft is attached is extended forward. Accordingly the concept of the two sides of the housing likewise relates to the extension direction of the awning, i.e. that thus when standing under the awning and looking at the housing, to the right and left the two sides of the awning and thus the two end sides of the housing are meant.

Because the awning housing is angled on the two end sides and the fastening brackets are concealed, the fastening brackets are protected against environmental effects. Deposits of dirt, rain water, etc. can no longer form, as a result of which it is guaranteed that the brackets and the fasteners such as screws, washers, locking elements, clamping pieces and the like are still intact even after a very long time and for example it cannot happen that screws have fretted, as is known in the awnings according to the prior art, after a very long interval and can often lead to problems in dismounting or repair.

Furthermore because the housing on the two ends is angled in one direction and the brackets are covered, a very advantageous overall optical design is implemented since the fastening brackets are no longer visible.

Preferably the housing on the two sides is angled by 90° in one direction.

Especially preferably the angled housing ends on the two sides are formed by a miter of 45°.

Preferably between the housing and the angled ends of the housing there are diagonal connectors, especially at an angle of 45° to the extension direction of the extension profile.

These diagonal connectors can thus lie in the miter and form the connection between the base housing along the fabric shaft and the angled housing ends.

This miter of 45° makes it possible to reflect the housing contour of the awning housing on an angle bisector and to continue exactly the same housing contour as an angled end toward the building wall and to cover the fastening consoles.

It is especially advantageous in this case that the fundamental geometry, i.e. the housing cross section, can be routed over the entire width of the awning and can be continued via a reflection on one angle bisector on the two side ends toward the building wall so that an altogether visually very pleasing homogenous overall design results.

In one especially preferred embodiment at least one cable duct and/or an electrical connection is integrated in at least one of the angled housing ends.

The integration of an electrical connection and/or a cable duct makes it possible to route the electrical connection for the drive motor of the awning likewise concealed by one of the angled housing ends into the awning housing. Here it is especially advantageous that on the one hand the electrical connection is protected against environmental influences and rain water and furthermore a visually very pleasing overall design is formed in that in addition to the fastening brackets also the electrical connection can be made concealed by its being concealed by an angled housing end and being routed protected against environmental effects from the building wall into the awning housing.

Preferably in one or two of the angled housing ends there is an electronic control of the awning, especially of a fabric shaft drive and/or a lighting apparatus and/or there is a remote control receiver.

This makes it possible to integrate the control of the awning into this housing end.

Preferably in one or both of the angled housing ends there is an inspection flap by which an electronic control of the awning and/or a remote control receiver and/or an electric-motorized fabric shaft drive and/or an electrical connection region is accessible. Behind the inspection flap there can be another detachable cover for protection of the electronic components and modules which lie behind it.

Due to the arrangement of this inspection flap in one or both of the angled housing ends all electronic components and modules of the awning are accessible, in particular the terminal box, via which the electrical supply of the awning can be established, can be made accessible in this way so that a connection of the awning to the electric system of the building on which the awning is to be fastened can be easily established.

Furthermore the electric motor for driving the awning fabric shaft which is preferably made as a tube motor and which is located in the fabric shaft can be accessible via this inspection flap.

This inspection flap can be formed in particular by a removable housing part.

In one especially preferred embodiment, on the bottom of the housing of the awning there are lighting means or the lighting means are installed in the floor of the housing in order to illuminate the space under the awning.

The arrangement of one or more lighting means on the bottom of the awning housing, especially in the form of lighting means installed in the floor of the housing, can illuminate the space underneath the awning independently of the position of the extension profile, i.e. both with the awning retracted and also with the awning partially or completely extended.

The electrical supply of these lighting means can take place via the central electrical connection of the awning and the supply lines can be installed protected against external effects within the awning housing.

It is also possible to integrate a dimmer into the awning in order to dim the lighting means, i.e. to be able to control their brightness.

Preferably the awning has a wireless receiver and an electrical fabric shaft drive, the fabric shaft drive being triggerable by means of a wireless remote control.

Alternatively or cumulatively, there are a wireless receiver and integrated lighting, the lighting being triggerable by means of a wireless remote control.

Furthermore, alternatively or cumulatively a heating apparatus which can be formed from one or more heat radiators can be integrated into the awning system by one or more heat radiators being located underneath the awning housing, especially attached directly or indirectly to the awning housing. Here there can be a wireless receiver in the awning so that the heating apparatus can be actuated by a wireless remote control, especially the heat output can be adjusted.

The wireless receiver and the control device are preferably located in the angled housing end in which the electrical connection region for connection to the electrical system of the building on which the awning is to be mounted is located, all electronic components and modules as well as connection regions being accessible preferably by an inspection flap in the end of the housing.

Preferably the housing is closed by the extension profile when the extension profile is completely retracted, the extension profile being beveled on the side ends and traveling against corresponding sealing regions on the housing.

Especially advantageously the extension profile is beveled by 45° on the side ends and when it is completely retracted it travels against corresponding sealing regions on the housing, the contact plane between the housing and extension profile lying in the miter of the awning housing which is angled on the ends.

This beveling of the extension profile on the side ends and the arrangement of accordingly corresponding sealing regions on the housing ensure that the housing with the awning completely retracted is completely and reliably sealed by the extension profile so that the fabric shaft in the housing is reliably protected against rain water and other environmental effects.

Especially preferably the awning has a valance shaft which is located in or on the extension profile and from which a valance can be unwound vertically down.

In particular in the valance shaft there can be an electric motor drive by means of which the valance is extended and retracted by the electric motor. Preferably the valance shaft motor is triggered via the same wireless remote control as the triggering of the fabric shaft drive of the awning and of the optional lighting apparatus and/or heating apparatus.

One exemplary embodiment of the awning as claimed in the invention is shown in the figures and is detailed below.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an awning with the extension profile retracted;

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the awning as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a section through the housing of the awning perpendicular to the fabric shaft;

FIG. 4 shows an exploded drawing of the awning.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the awning as claimed in the invention in the retracted state. FIG. 2 shows the awning as shown in FIG. 1 in a plan view.

The awning as claimed in the invention is a cassette awning on which a fabric shaft is pivotally mounted in the housing 1. A fabric can be unwound from the fabric shaft. The front end of the fabric is attached to the extension profile 2. The fabric shaft 3 is not recognizable in FIGS. 1 and 2, but is visible in the section as shown in FIG. 3. The fabric 4 which has been taken up on the fabric shaft 3 is likewise visible in FIG. 3.

The housing 1 of the awning is angled on the two ends.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the angled housing ends 5 a, 5 b are formed by there being a miter 6 a, 6 b on the two sides of the housing 1. This miter 6 a, 6 b forms the angle bisector of the 90° angle around which the housing on two sides is angled on the ends, the housing cross section being reflected on the miter line 6 a, 6 b and being continued in the direction to the building wall which is not shown.

The angled housing ends 5 a, 5 b in the mounted state surround the fastening brackets 7 which are not visible in FIGS. 1 and 2, as can be seen in FIG. 3 in a section and the exploded drawing as shown in FIG. 4.

The extension profile 2 is beveled on the ends by 45° and is inserted exactly into the contact planes with the miter lines 6 a, 6 b so that the housing 1 is completely closed with the extension profile 2 retracted.

FIG. 3 shows a cross section through the awning. The cross section as shown in FIG. 3 shows the housing 1 and the extension profile 2.

The fabric shaft 3 with the awning fabric 4 wound onto it is pivotally mounted in the housing 1.

The front end of the awning fabric 4 is fixed in the piping 4 a in the extension profile 2.

The fabric shaft 3 can be driven by an electric motor. That is, when the fabric shaft turns to the left in the plane of the section as shown in FIG. 3, the spring-tensioned articulated arms 8 are automatically lined up so that the extension profile 2 is extended.

The awning is attached by means of fastening brackets 7 which as shown in the section in FIG. 3 are overlapped completely by the angled housing ends 5.

In the bottom of the housing 1 lamps 9 are installed which are used to illuminate the space underneath the awning regardless of the position of the extension profile 2, i.e. that the space underneath the awning can be illuminated both with the awning completely retracted, as shown in FIG. 3, and also with the extension profile 2 partially or completely extended.

FIG. 4 shows an exploded drawing of the awning as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 with the bottom shell 1 a of the housing and the box roof profile 1 b.

The fabric shaft 3 with the awning fabric 4 wound onto it is pivotally mounted in the housing.

The fabric shaft assembly formed from the fabric shaft 3 and the awning fabric 4 is supported in crossheads 10 in the housing 1.

There is a fabric shaft support profile 11 to support the fabric shaft 3.

Furthermore there is a slide profile along which the awning fabric 4 can also slide when the extension profile 2 is being extended and retracted.

The fabric shaft support profile 11 is supported by the support profile holder 13. Furthermore the housing 1 has a front screen profile 1 c.

The extension profile assembly 2 on the end sides has extension profile end caps 2 a, 2 b which are at a 45° angle to the extension direction of the awning so that when the extension profile assembly 2 is retracted into the awning housing 1, the awning adjoins the sealing regions located in the region of the miter 6 a, 6 b, forming a seal, and seals the housing forward so that rain water or dirty water cannot penetrate.

The housing 1 is fastened to the building wall by means of the wall bracket 7. For this reason the housing 1 is hung under the upper hook which is visible in FIG. 4 on the wall bracket 7 and then also pivoted down and in, so that housing 1 is held by its own weight in the wall brackets 7. The housing 1 is then fixed and secured in the wall brackets 7 by means of the clamping strip shown in FIG. 4 and the fastening screws. Of the two wall brackets 7, only one is shown in the exploded representation shown in FIG. 4. There is one wall bracket 7 each on the left and on the right side of the awning for fastening the awning.

The wall brackets 7 are concealed by the angled housing ends 5 a, 5 b so that the wall brackets 7 and all fasteners are protected against the effects of weather.

Furthermore the prefabricated arm holder assembly 14 which is inserted into the awning housing 1 is shown in FIG. 4.

The connection between the housing and angled housing end 5 a takes place by the diagonal connector 15. This diagonal connector 15 is located at a 45° angle to the extension direction of the awning and forms the miter between the housing 1 and the angle housing end 5 a or on the opposite side the angled housing end 5 b. The structure of the awning as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is largely symmetrical, on the right side in the representations shown in the figures in the angled end 5 a of the housing 1 is the electronic module of the awning via which the fabric shaft motor and the lighting 9 are triggered by means of a remote control. For this purpose there is a cover 16 for protection of the electronic components located behind it against water sprays and unwanted contact when the lateral bracket cover 17 is opened.

The side bracket cover 17 forms the visual terminations of the angled ends 5 a of the housing 1 of the awning on the right side.

The side bracket cover 17 can be removed and thus at the same time forms the inspection flap for access to the electronic components which are located accessibly in the right housing end 5 a.

At the same time, in this angled housing end 5 a is the connection region to the terminal box for connecting the awning to the electrical system of the building.

The guy wire receiver 18 can be furthermore recognized in the exploded drawing as shown in FIG. 4; it feeds the pretensioning of the housing by means of a guy wire into the structure. This guy wire receiver 18 makes it possible to change the fabric shaft or fabric without having to completely disassemble the awning since the pretensioning can be maintained. This is for example very helpful when the lighting means 9 are being replaced.

Furthermore the fabric shaft clamping piece 19 is shown in the exploded drawing of FIG. 4.

The fabric shaft clamping piece 19 together with the fabric shaft holder forms the crosshead guide within which the crosshead 10 of the fabric shaft assembly is supported to slide. Here the fabric shaft holder forms the lower half of the crosshead guide and of the fabric shaft clamping piece 19 forms the upper half of the crosshead guide.

Furthermore, the fabric shaft clamping piece 19 is used to accommodate the electronic module on the side pointed to the exterior. To protect the electronic components which are located on the fabric shaft clamping piece 19, there is also the cover 16 to prevent intentional touching of the electronic components when the side bracket cover 17 has been removed. Furthermore there is a masking and water spray guard 20.

One especially advantageous design results from the arrangement of the diagonal connector 15 at a 45° angle relative to the extension direction of the awning, as a result of which the explained modular construction of the awning can be altogether implemented so that on the one hand especially advantageous fabrication, but on the other hand also especially advantageous mounting and final installation of the awning on the building are possible. 

1. A cassette awning comprising a fabric wound on a fabric shaft pivotally mounted in a housing from which said fabric can be unwound, wherein said housing includes a pair of angled housing end members and an extension profile mounted on the face of said housing, said housing further including at least one pair of fastening brackets for fastening to a building, and wherein the housing end on each sides is angled and further wherein said fastening brackets are covered by the angled end members of the housing.
 2. The awning as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing ends are angled by 90° on both sides.
 3. The awning as claimed in claim 1 wherein the angled housing end members on the two sides are formed by a miter of 45°.
 4. The awning as claimed in claim 1, wherein between the housing and the angled end members of the housing there are diagonal connectors preferably at an angle of 45° to the extension direction of the extension profile (2).
 5. The awning as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one cable duct or electrical connection is integrated in at least one of the angled housing end members.
 6. The awning as claimed in claim 1, wherein in at least one of the angled housing end members there is an electronic control unit of for the awning, for controlling the fabric shaft drive or a lighting apparatus or a remote control receiver.
 7. The awning as claimed in claim 1, wherein in at least one of the angled housing end members there is an inspection flap.
 8. The awning as claimed in claim 1, wherein on the bottom of the housing there are electrical lighting apparatus illuminating the space under the awning.
 9. The awning as claimed in claim 1, including a wireless remote control and wherein the awning includes a wireless receiver and an electrical fabric shaft drive, the fabric shaft drive being operable by means of said wireless remote control.
 10. The awning as claimed in claim 1, including a wireless remote control and wherein the awning has a wireless receiver and integrated lighting the lighting being operable by means of said wireless remote control.
 11. The awning as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing is closed by the extension profile when the extension profile is completely retracted, the extension profile being beveled on the side ends and travelling against corresponding sealing regions on the housing.
 12. The awning as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing is closed by the extension profile when the extension profile is completely retracted, the extension profile being beveled by 45° on the side ends and traveling against corresponding sealing regions on the housing, the contact plane between the housing and extension profile lying in an end miter of the awning housing which is angled on the ends thereof.
 13. The awning as claimed in claim 1, wherein the awning further comprises a valance and a valance shaft located in or on the extension profile and from which said valance can be unrolled vertically down.
 14. A cassette awning comprising a generally rectangular housing having a face portion and a back portion, a fabric wound on a shaft pivotally mounted in said housing and from which said fabric can be unwound and a pair of housing end members positioned on each housing end, wherein said housing includes an extension profile mounted on the face of said housing, said housing further comprising at least one pair of fastening brackets mounted on the back for fastening the housing to a building, wherein the housing end members are angled at 90° relative to the housing and wherein said fastening brackets are at least partially covered by the angled housing end members.
 15. The awning of claim 14 wherein the housing end members have a miter of roughly 45° on one end and are mated to the housing with a miter of roughly 45°.
 16. The awning of claim 14 further comprising least one cable duct or one electrical connection integrated in at least one of the housing end members.
 17. The awning of claim 16 further comprising one or more of an electronic control unit for controlling the fabric shaft drive, electrical lighting apparatus and a remote control receiver.
 18. The awning of claim 14 further comprising a wireless remote control and wherein the awning has includes a wireless receiver and an electrical fabric shaft drive, the fabric shaft drive being operable by means of said wireless remote control.
 19. The awning of claim 14 wherein the housing face is substantially closed by the extension profile when said profile is completely retracted, said profile being beveled on the side ends and in sealing abutment to the housing.
 20. The awning of claim 18 further comprising electrical lighting apparatus for illuminating the space beneath the awning. 